University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Institute for Lay Formation | News

• Associate Director featured in NALM’s Lay Minister Stories project

  Katarzyna Kasiarz participated in the National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM) Lay Minister Stories project featured on the Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord website.  View her video along with many other inspiring stories of call to ministry.

• Director attends New Cloud of Witnesses: Vatican II & the Laity conference.

  Linda Couri traveled to John Carroll University in Ohio to attend a conference on the impact of the Second Vatican Council on the laity in the Church.  Presentations covered a range of topics, beginning with Doris Donnelly’s remembrance of Cardinal Suenens in her opening remarks.  Margaret Steinfels spoke about the emergence of the laity 50 years after the Council and Edward Hahnenberg made projections about the next 5 years of lay ministry.  Political commentator E. J. Dionne gave a timely talk on the Catholic vote.

• Lay Ministry Alumni Project inaugural formation day

  The Lay Ministry Alumni Project (LMAP) held its inaugural formation day, “Who Do You Say that I Am?” presented by Catherine Sims, M.Div at University of St. Mary of the Lake.

  Catherine Sims, M.Div, Pastoral Associate at St. Joseph in Libertyville, led the group through an exploration of high and low Christology.

  The event was extremely successful.  It was attended by 65 graduates of former lay ministry formation programs, including Called & Gifted.  The group represented 17 cohort years and over 30 parishes.  It was a time of reconnecting with classmates, renewing personal spirituality, sharing with peer ministers, and remembering the energy and camaraderie of previous formation days.

• Associate Director gives workshop at Chicago Catechetical Conference

  As part of this year’s Chicago Catechetical Conference, Live Your Faith Boldly, Katarzyna Kasiarz presented a workshop entitled, “Leaven for the World: Reading & Applying Gaudium et Spes.”  The goals of the workshop were to break open the text of the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, to consider implications for the laity, and to teach basic skills for reading and interpreting documents of the Second Vatican Council. 

• LMAP Completes a Successful First Year

  The Lay Ministry Alumni Project (LMAP) closed out its first year with a third formation day in Brookfield on April 27.  Rev. Michael Ahlstrom presented a lively workshop on the Second Vatican Council, attending by 32 alumni representing cohorts from 1990 through 2012. The day included a presentation, video, and small group exercise to brainstorm topics for a follow-up day on the Council.

  This self-sustaining program is planned and coordinated by a volunteer committee of Lay Ministry alumni as a service to their peers.  For more information and the 2013-2014 schedule, visit Lay Ministry Alumni Project.  Come join us in the Fall!